LOS ANGELES -- Out of the corner of his eye, Mets first baseman Lucas Duda saw Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig breaking for home. Well aware of Puig's reputation as one of the fastest, most aggressive, sometimes reckless runners in the game, Duda whirled as quick as he could, fired home and watched catcher Travis d'Arnaud apply the tag.

Just like that, Puig's baserunning helped the Mets turn their first triple play in more than four years Sunday at Dodger Stadium.

"Very unexpected," Mets manager Terry Collins said, grinning. "We were just happy to have the double play. The extra out was extra special for us."

With men on first and second in the bottom of the sixth, Matt Kemp hit a ground ball to third base off Mets starter Bartolo Colon. Eric Campbell fielded it and fired to second, starting what seemed destined to become a routine 5-4-3 double play.

But Puig, who began the play on second base, simply never stopped running. Duda fired home, giving d'Arnaud just enough time to tag Puig before he crossed home plate.

"It definitely caught my eye," Duda said. "I was lucky enough just to have enough time to get the ball to Travis, and he made a good tag."

The Mets' last triple play came four years ago in Washington, when Angel Pagan caught a sinking line drive to center field and fired to second base, catching two baserunners out of position.

Sunday's play was more calculated, with Puig clearly trying to steal a run through his speed and aggression. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly criticized Puig's baserunning given the score of the game -- the Mets were winning by five runs at the time -- and the situation, noting that Puig's unbridled aggression played a major role in another triple play against the Dodgers earlier this year. Even Duda said he was surprised to see him break for home.

Puig did not address the play after the game.

"It's just the wrong play," Mattingly said. "It's what we talked to him about. We always go back to, on those types of plays, you play the scoreboard. Today it was the wrong play, and he's going to make mistakes, and we're going to live with that and we're going to keep teaching him. But the disappointing thing is I think that's the second time almost that same exact play happened, and you … want guys to learn from their mistakes."

Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDicomo. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.